A complex web of deceit unraveled today as three Long Island residents, one of whom is a NYPD detective, along with another NYPD detective from Staten Island were charged in a widespread scheme to defraud the federal government of pandemic relief funds. The defendants, including John Bolden, Jacqueline Johnson, and Christian McKenzie, allegedly manipulated the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to siphon off funds meant to keep struggling businesses afloat during the Covid-19 crisis.
The charges reveal a shocking betrayal of public trust by Bolden and Anthony Carreira, both detectives sworn to uphold the law, who instead conspired to break it. From May 2020 to October 2022, Bolden, using his partnership in a tax preparation business, allegedly orchestrated a fraudulent operation that saw over 65 individuals receiving loans based on falsified documentation. Bolden is accused of preparing bogus IRS Schedule C forms that inflated or entirely fabricated details about employment and income, helping his co-defendants, including Johnson and McKenzie, as well as numerous clients, to receive PPP loans they were not entitled to.
Jacqueline Johnson, 78, of Valley Stream, and Christian McKenzie, 46, of Wheatley Heights, are among those who are said to have benefited from Bolden’s illegal enterprise. The scheme reportedly allowed them to pocket funds that were supposed to aid businesses at the brink of collapse during the height of the pandemic.
If convicted, the defendants could face up to 30 years in prison for their roles in the fraudulent scheme.
“As alleged, the defendants, including members of law enforcement responsible for upholding the law, defrauded the United States government out of relief funds meant for businesses struggling to survive the pandemic,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “These arrests are a powerful reminder of this Office’s resolve to prosecute anyone who violated the public trust and took advantage of the COVID crisis by stealing from relief programs.”
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the Suffolk County Police Department, the FBI, and the SBA’s Office of the Inspector General.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Photo by Karolina Kaboompics.
